Out of Things Left Unsaid
Ten:
Three Crimes
Derek never liked hospitals, or clinics, or anything that had to do with sick people for that matter. It made him feel uneasy.
"Hospitals make me queasy," Casey mumbled, echoing his thoughts. She clutched her stomach protectively, following closely behind him. The bell signaling the fourth level rang.
"Derek!" Marti cried out.
Nora looked up at them with a tired smile.
"Liz says Edwin's an idiot," Marti quipped lightly, leading them to Edwin's room. Yes, Edwin's hospital room. They had gotten the news a mere two hours ago. It was nearing midnight.
"Edwin got into a fight," Nora explainable, almost as if she still didn't believe it. "But he's alright. Just a broken arm."
"Edwin?" Casey repeated incredulously.
Derek laughed. "I knew there was a rough no-bullshit man under all that geeky-ness."
Casey rolled her eyes. "Funny."
After Nora and Marti pointed them to the door, they headed back to the family room.
Casey shook her head as the doors slid open automatically. "I can't believe Ed got into a fight."
"I can't believe Ed got into a fight and broke his arm."
When they finally reached Edwin's room, he was lying comfortably on the bed with a dopey smile on his face and a caste on his left arm.
"Oh, Edwin."
"Battle wounds, step-sister dearest."
"So what's the story, Eddie-boy? You were fighting a big guy, you tripped on your feet, stumbled onto the street and got hit by a car?" Derek said, taking one of the seats.
Casey hit him on the shoulder. "Derek."
"Well, what? You don't break an arm from a fight, it breaks from an accident. You get bruised up, or a busted lip, or a black eye or whatever," Derek retorted before redirecting his attention on his brother. "And I hope you got a good punch in."
Edwin beamed. "His lip was bleeding."
"Oh my god, you guys are horrible."
"I should have known Derek was going to approve of this," Lizzie said from the doorway, a brown paper in her hands.
"They're battle-wounds," Edwin repeated defensively.
"Pff, battle wounds? More like stupid monkey behavior." She huffed before placing the bag onto the table and inching it closer to the bed. "And this is the only time I actually run to Tim Hortons for you. And I only did it because you're injured and I'm cool like that."
Lizzie, and all of her eighteen year old self, sat on the arm of her sister's chair and hugged her. "Hey big sis."
She greeted Derek with a broad smile. She knew he didn't do hugs. He watched as she and Casey chatted away about Edwin's 'stupidity'. He hadn't noticed before how much they resembled each other.
"I get no love," Edwin murmured, looking at his brother in what Derek assumed was 'guy solidarity'. Derek nodded obligingly. He wondered whether Edwin got the expression from him or the other way around.
"Battle wounds, uh?" Derek said, taking the seat beside the bed.
"Yup," Edwin sighed self-importantly. He gestured to Lizzie in distaste. "And this is what I get for defending her honor."
Lizzie rolled her eyes at that. "Please."
Derek laughed. Lizzie's please had an uncanny resemblance to Casey's please.
He listened to his brother as he explained the whole incident in the park. Some random guy had started saying gross remarks to Lizzie when Edwin cut in. It didn't bode too well after that. The other kid must have pushed too hard at some point and caused Edwin to collide roughly against a seesaw; his arm – luckily, in this case – took the brunt of the hit.
"You could have stayed out of it," Lizzie persisted. Derek was starting to drown them out, feeling the tiredness of finals and the long drive seeping in. He had one more exam to go before he was officially finished. When he felt eyes on him, he looked up only to catch Casey looking at him. She diverted her gaze as soon as their eyes met.
He could tell she was purposely avoiding his eyes. He tried to decipher her blank expression, but came short. Not very unlike the car ride from Toronto. He sighed, standing up all of sudden.
"I'm gonna go outside for some air… the car ride made me stuffy," he lied. Edwin would have seen right through the lie had he not been still arguing with Lizzie. Casey shifted her eyes from her siblings to Derek and finally nodded in acknowledgment. He left the room without incident and was glad when he didn't bump into anyone else.
He opened the front doors in relief and caught sight of an empty bench. He slowly trekked his way to the fraying bench, sitting on the edge.
His brother was okay. Edwin was okay.
He ran the sentence a few more times in his head, willing it to sink in. He hadn't realized how riled up he'd been until he learned his brother was only nursing a broken arm. He remembered when Marti had been rushed to the hospital after a rough fall during his senior year. They had called him in from class and Casey literally had to calm him down, driving the car herself. But just as it was now, Marti had come out with a few bruises and a broken rib.
He ran his palms over his face roughly. "You okay?" he heard a familiar voice say. He brought his hands down.
"Casey."
She sent him a small smile, edging closer on the bench. She reached her hand out and softly ran it over his back. They remained quiet for a while. He closed his eyes, letting himself be soothed by Casey's caressing.
"Did you find an apartment yet?" he asked quietly. She seemed surprised by the question.
"Oh. No…"
He watched as she looked down and wringed her hands nervously in her lap.
"What is it?" He sat up straighten, wondering why Casey's expression turned mildly panicked.
"Well, I've been meaning to tell you something."
He frowned, already sensing that whatever she was about to say, he was definitely not going to like. "Okay…"
"But you can't get angry," she added hastily.
"Jeez, Case. Just say it."
She took a deep breath. "I'm staying home for the summer."
He was right; he most definitely didn't like what she said.
Upon his shocked expression, she rushed on. "Tara's roommate is leaving mid-August and I'd really really like to room with her." Casey looked at him worriedly. "I mean… what else would I do?"
He bit his tongue to keep from saying anything rash. He knew her decision probably made sense, but it felt like a really crappy one.
"I mean, I can't just stay with you until the fall semester," she continued quietly. "I don't even have my own room."
Derek let out a small and wry laugh. He noticed her biting her lip nervously despite the fact that he was avoiding her eyes.
After an agonizing moment, he finally looked at her. "Okay." His face was hard and set, ready to go back inside.
But Casey didn't let him leave. "Okay? What does that mean?"
"It means what you want it to mean," was his cryptic reply. He knew, somewhere deeply buried in the back of his mind, he was acting immature, but he couldn't help it – he felt jilted.
"Derek…" She stepped to follow him but he rushed to the door and entered the building without looking back.
He practically speed walked to the staircase.
"Where've you been?" Lizzie asked as soon as he reentered Edwin's room.
"Ran into an classmate." It was amazing how lying came so easily to him. Despite the fact that he took the stairs, Casey still got there thirty seconds after him.
He moved passed her his younger step-sister and took off his coat, throwing it haphazardly on the chair. He didn't notice the long-forgotten gem fall from the pocket.
"What's this?" Lizzie asked curiously, palming the little jewel he got for Casey.
"It's a
friend's," he said quickly. He made a grab for it and shoved it
back into his pocket.
Lizzie gave him a strange look.
"Oh-kay. I just thought it was pretty. Especially since it
had a loop. Is it for a necklace or a bracelet?"
Derek was starting to feel agitated. He should have waited a bit before coming back.
When he noticed that Lizzie was still waiting for an answer, with Casey duly listening as well, he muttered, "a bracelet."
Casey's eyebrows knitted imploringly.
"Like a charm bracelet?"
"What's with the Spanish inquisition, MacDonald?"
Lizzie looked indignant. "What's with Mr.Grumpy-all-of-a-sudden?"
He was saved from replying when Nora chose that moment to come in. "So when are you guys heading back?"
"I guess until Edwin gets out… maybe a bit more," Casey said, looking relieved at the interruption too.
Derek nodded. "I have my last exam next week, though. So a few days, at most."
"And you, Case?' Lizzie asked, linking her arm with Casey's.
"I finished yesterday, but Derek has the car."
"Why didn't you bring all your stuff then?" Marti asked, bouncing on Edwin's bed.
Derek frowned.
"Well, we kinda came as fast as we could. Packing wouldn't have been a great idea."
Lizzie nodded. "Especially with your obsessively long packing procedures." She made air quotes for the last part, almost earning a smile from Derek.
"Shut up, Liz," she muttered half-heartedly, her lips quirking slightly.
Lizzie laughed and proceeded in hugging her. "I'm glad you're spending the summer with us."
Derek felt his insides tighten. Was he the last one to find out?
By the time the clock hit two in the morning, they were heading out. Edwin was staying for the night, just so that they can make sure everything was okay for an early release in the morning. Marti was very nearly sleeping against Derek as they walked to the car. He buckled her into the backseat and was glad to see Casey getting into his dad's car.
He heard his little sister stir in the back. "The gem was for Casey's charm bracelet?"
The question caught him off guard but he was too tired to think about it. "Yeah."
"Why didn't you give it to her?"
Derek sighed. "I forgot… at first. And then, I don't know." He paused. "Didn't think she'd want it," he admitted.
Marti frowned. "Why not?"
"Because Casey's complicated, Smarti."
"I still think you should give it to her," she persisted sleepily.
Derek raised an eyebrow, Marti always had interesting reasoning. "And why is that?"
"She looks sad."
0
There was a knock on the door. He knew she'd try to mend things as soon as possible. She probably saw her chance when she noticed his lights were still on.
He was in Edwin's room, which used to be his room. Casey was in her old room, now a simple guestroom. At least they hadn't needed to fight over whose room would remain the same – Nora and his dad had decided to simultaneously change both rooms for that precise reason.
"Derek?" he heard her softly say against the door. He exhaled loudly but moved out of his bed and opened the door. She stood in the doorway, wearing one of his old t-shirts (which he guessed she did to purposely torture him) and her pajama shorts.
She looks sad.
Marti really was way observant for her age.
Derek moved to let her in. She seemed surprised at the gesture.
"Thanks." She sat on the desk chair as he closed the door after her and sat back onto his bed. His old Death Cab for Cutie CD was playing softly in the background. It was already in his brother's stereo when he came in.
He looked at her expectantly. She was biting her lip, her eyes generally fixed on the floor. When she still remained silent after the second song started playing, he sighed.
"Are you just gonna sit there and not talk? 'Cause this could just wait 'til tomorrow."
She finally looked up, a contemplative expression on her face. Then, much to his surprise, she stood up. He didn't think she'd actually take him up on his suggestion. She faced him when she reached the door. Biting her lip again, she mumbled a quiet goodnight before shutting the door behind her.
And he didn't think he'd ever been as confused as he was now.
0
"I can't believe we're actually having breakfast all together," Lizzie laughed, pulling her coat on.
"Why is that so shocking?" Nora scoffed, fastening the light scarf around her neck. "Casey," she called out. "You ready?"
"Yeah, yeah, I'm here." She bustled down the stairs and almost tripped on the last step. She immediately rounded on him. "Not a word."
He threw his hands in the air, trying to contain his amusement but when she unwilling broke out into a grin, he couldn't help it. She shook her head and kept walking towards the coat rack, mostly disappointed at herself for caving.
"I'm riding with Derek and Casey," Marti declared as she skipped to the door.
"We should have gotten a van," George said offhandedly. He grabbed his keys from the counter and hastily shooed everyone out the house.
"Can I sit in the front seat, Smerek?" Marti pleaded, flashing her puppy eyes at him.
Derek raised his eyebrows. "Well, how old are you now?"
Marti groaned. "Twelve."
"And how old do you need to be to sit in the front seat, Smarti?" He opened the backseat door for her, gesturing for her to go in. She didn't protest.
"Thirteen," she mumbled reluctantly.
"Oh," he looked at Casey in mock-reflection. "Wait, how old did she say she was?"
"Twelve…" Casey mused. "Doesn't sound like thirteen."
"No, no, it doesn't."
"I get it," Marti sang from inside the car, making both him and Casey laugh.
Aside from the mandatory wheel chair ride to the front doors, picking up Edwin from the hospital was rather uneventful. They arrived at the restaurant at half past twelve. It was fuller than they expected.
"No need to worry about looking weird, then," Casey remarked when they all settled on a table. Their food came quickly enough. That was the great thing about breakfast joints. It was usually fast.
"Hey Derek," Edwin said, after swallowing a large mouthful of eggs.
"Hmm?"
"Do you have my Arcade Fire CD?" It wasn't an accusation really. Derek did remember having borrowed it some time during his last visit and forgetting to give it back, but he hadn't listened to it in a while.
"Yeah, maybe… but I can't remember where I put it. Maybe it's still in my car."
Casey shook her head absently, eyeing her eggs skeptically. "It's in your room."
Edwin looked confused. "My room?"
Casey seemed to realize her slip. "Uh, no… Derek's. I was studying there the other day and I saw it."
Derek hoped she sounded more convincing in their ears than his.
"You were studying in Derek's room?" Lizzie asked, her eyes narrowed in question.
Casey shrugged, and Derek was happy to see that her nonchalance felt genuine. "I was tired of the library and the place where I'm staying at, well, it's not very ideal."
This seemed to have erased Lizzie's doubt. "Oh, yeah. The vultures."
"I can't believe you actually let her use your room," Edwin said in disbelief.
"Well, she corrects my essays – so it's a trade-off." It wasn't a lie either. Casey often proof-read his papers and it more often than not made the whole difference. "Venturi's don't give freebies."
"Here, here!" Edwin cheered, lifting his juice cup. George laughed but upon Nora's disapproving glare, he stopped.
"Well, that's the last time I'm getting anything for you from Timmies," Lizzie muttered sardonically.
"I said medium-runny, didn't I? I mean, this," she pointed grudgingly to her eggs. "This is not medium-runny, it's runny. Like, really runny."
"It's not a big deal, Drama Queen. You eat it with your toast anyway," Derek cut in, all too aware of Casey's insane need of having food prepared in a wildly precise way.
"But it's messy," Casey complained.
"No one's staring, Case," he said sympathetically. He knew better than to sound critical. It usually made her more anal-retentive if he was. He didn't notice the other occupants on the table watching the interaction with rapt interest. They were also well-versed in Casey's high-maintenance needs. They just hadn't discovered a way to deal with her if a plate went wrong.
Clearly, Derek had.
She let it go almost immediately, in fact.
"Why are you guys different?" Edwin actually stopped eating. "It's freaking me out. I've been through enough trauma for the week, I don't need anymore." He made a show of looking scandalized, which made Marti laugh.
"Funny, Ed," Derek deadpanned.
"Well, I think they've just gone past all the fighting. They're mature adults now," Nora said in their defense, beaming up at them.
"Which is more than we can say for you," his dad said breezily.
"Hey!"
"You were asking for it, Ed," Lizzie supplied.
"Way to treat the injured."
The rest of the meal passed in a similar fashion. It made him remember how much he missed being home. He'd just have to make an extra effort this summer and be more present. Casey's summer plans sprang back to his mind suddenly.
It did make sense. Casey has had an unlucky streak in roommates. He didn't blame her for being a bit more skeptic this time around. And truthfully, Tara was possibly the most ideal roommate she could ever wish for.
And moving in with him for the summer might have been too big of a step.
The logical solution would have been to stay at home for summer.
He felt someone nudge him.
"You finished, Smerek?" his little sister asked him, gesturing to his mostly empty plate. At his nod, a hand grabbed his plate and walked away. He hadn't noticed the waitress.
After paying the bill, they once again split. Lizzie switched with Marti this time, settling comfortably in his backseat.
"I have to fill up my gas," he stated, starting the engine.
"Can you pass by the gas station with those good small frog candies?" Casey asked.
He groaned. "Seriously?"
"Please, please, please!"
Lizzie laughed.
"It's like 15 minutes away from here."
"I'll pay for gas again?"
He exhaled. "Fine, Princess. You'll get your candy frogs."
She fidgeted in her chair in giddiness. He never understood her love for those candies. When they reached the gas station and he finished pumping his car, Casey practically jumped out of her seat. She was rummaging through her purse when her eyes widened.
"Oh crap." She sent Derek a sheepish look. "I think I forgot my wallet at home."
Derek groaned again. He should have known. He grabbed her purse, not believing her. She rolled her eyes but didn't stop him from looking through her bag. When he came up short, he reached into his back pocket and pulled out his wallet.
"You owe me."
She nodded in mock-sternness before scurrying off. Once she was in the store, Lizzie spoke up.
"So what's up with you and Casey?"
Derek kept his face passive. "What do you mean?"
"All that chumminess… you know," she continued.
Derek sighed, realizing that denying it all would be foolish. "I don't know. We just got closer, I guess. Things just changed."
Lizzie nodded, playing with her necklace. Her next comment almost made him choke on his own saliva. "So you guys aren't fornicating or anything?"
"Jesus, Liz. Fornicating?" He didn't know whether to laugh or be mortified. She seemed to have enjoyed his shocked reaction.
"You see, I'm convinced you guys already have, but Ed firmly believes you didn't. I think he has doubts now. Serves him right. He owes me fifty bucks," she said gleefully, as if it was the most casual thing to say. Derek was still staring and gaping at her when Casey opened the door.
She handed Derek the receipt. "I'll pay you back at home if you want," she said quietly, busying herself with buckling up and putting her newly bought goods on the floor. He didn't think she noticed his stunned expression, which was a good thing, but definitely fruit for thought. She seemed distracted.
He started the car and drove mostly in silence, not knowing whether to address Lizzie's revelation or Casey's silence. With the car parked, Lizzie was the first one out.
"Case?"
She paused in her movements.
"You okay?"
Her features softened at his words. She stared back at him, a tiny smile suddenly appearing on her face.
"Yeah, I'm okay," she answered softly. She leaned up and kissed chastely on the lips. He didn't have time to contemplate the sudden turn of events; she was already out the car and halfway across the front lawn.
0
After knocking on the guestroom door and finding it vacant, he knew she'd be in the kitchen. She was drinking a cup of juice and palming a small picture reverently in her hand. It looked strangely familiar. When she placed it back on the surface of the counter, he was able to make out the ruffled edges and the black and white colors in the semi-darkened room.
"Did you really lose it?" her voice broke through the silence. He sat on the stool next to her.
"No." It was one of those lame photo booth pictures you take for your library card.
Actually, that was exactly why they had taken the pictures in the first place. She wanted to make a card for the city library and dragged him along with her. Casey had pressed the eight photo option instead of four – two for him and two for her. It was her idea of posing with him, and nearly all of the pictures with both of them mostly consisted of her pulling him forward and a tangle of limbs.
Except for that one. He had kept it, stashed it away in his wallet and claimed it lost, much to Casey's dismay.
"You've had it in your wallet since then?" she said softly, a strange tone in her voice.
He nodded solemnly. He saw no point in lying.
"On purpose?" She sounded sad, but he couldn't tell if it was just his imagination.
He ran his hands through his hair. He managed to croak out a low, "yeah."
Her eyes were still fixed him and it was starting to unnerve him. It was like she could see right through him.
"Derek…"
He looked up, completely oblivious with what to say.
"I… uh… I just…" she sputtered, struggling for words. He waited patiently.
After a long pause, she blurted. "It's just such a monumental thing… this thing I'm feeling, it's big... You and me, we're big… you know? I mean, if it was just about the sex – then we'd just do it, get it over with, let the phase pass. But this," she gestured wildly between them, "this is big."
He nodded, willing her to continue because he wasn't sure where she was going with it.
"And it's scary," she said simply, her shoulders slumping. "There's so much to consider. We're not just any guy and any girl, we're Casey and Derek. We're step-siblings. And I think I freaked and I got all flaky on you, and I'm sorry."
"Casey-"
"No, wait. I'm sorry because I've been so unfair to you. God, you had a picture of me in your wallet for a whole year. I'm so stupid." With slight panic, he noticed her eyes welling up. "And I kept thinking you thought we – you and I, weren't a big deal and I thought we were–"
"Casey," he said more firmly this time, unable to keep the intensity from his voice. Her eyes were wide and slightly glazed. "I always thought you and me were a big deal."
He closed the gap between them and gently pressed his lips to hers. "And I'm alright with that if you are."
0
Epilogue
"No way," Derek protested, not letting Casey pull him to the photo booth.
"You totally owe me!"
"Case, we're on a quest, remember? Your dinosaur charm? I'm not home for long, you know," Derek tried, giving her his best face of reason.
"But you already gave me the gem. I can live without the dinosaur."
Derek rolled his eyes. "But you didn't put the gem on the bracelet."
"Well it's in my wallet."
Derek quirked an eyebrow. "Doesn't that make us even?"
"Uh, no," she retorted fervently. "You kept that picture, even when you knew I wanted it, and you never told me. That's three crimes."
"How exactly is that three crimes?" She was slowly inching him closer to the booth.
"One: you lied about losing it. Two: you willingly kept something from me when you knew I wanted it. Three: you never said anything."
Her hands came up to his chest. "Please?" And then she was smiling deviously up at him. "You won't regret it, I promise."
He couldn't help smirking, finally giving in and watched her as she slipped in the money. He gently pushed her in before she pressed anything. He inserted a few more coins in and pressed the twelve photo button.
At least he was going to milk it.
"What did you press?" Casey asked dubiously, not sitting down just yet. He quickly took the seat and pulled her onto his lap.
"Doesn't matter," he said before crushing his lips against hers.
"I bet you didn't-" But her speech was cut short when the first flash lit the booth. He still hadn't stopped kissing her.
She tried to pry her lips away from him. "Can't you be serious for thirty seconds?"
"Here?" He pulled his head back and flashed her another one of his famous smirks. "Not really." And then he was kissing her again.
She responded for a half a second before pulling away again. "Just one smiley one, please?"
He shook his head, rolling the stool so that the camera had a clearer view of them. "Where's the fun in that?" he mumbled against her lips.
Her palms came up to his cheeks and she finally managed to pull herself properly away.
"You're impossible," she said, unable to keep from laughing. The camera was still shooting away. "Just one?"
"Just one," he conceded, turning to face the camera. Her smile broadened even more as the camera took a clear shot.
"Happy now?"
She nodded giddily, letting him kiss her again. After two or three more flashes, the camera stopped. It was a few moments before they got out.
Casey adjusted her clothes promptly and flattened out her hair. She looked practically impeccable. Derek on the other hand, just exited the booth without any adjustments.
"Honestly, Derek," Casey huffed, looking around them in panic before fixing Derek's hair. When she was satisfied, she pulled back and admired her work.
"I liked you better in the booth."
"Ass," she started to say, but the sound of the booth printing the photos stumped the rest of her response. She pulled them out. Derek wanted to laugh at her conflicted expression. It's like she wasn't sure whether to be amused or appalled by the blatant inappropriateness of some of the pictures. One of them had a shot of the back of her head and her hand clearly and deeply woven in Derek's hair.
He didn't know they'd look this hot kissing.
Casey seemed to have paused at the picture right above the only one they were looking at the camera. They were staring at each other, a tiny smile playing on her lips. He noticed his arm folding at the end of the frame – it was the hand that was around her waist. His other hand, however, the one behind them, was pulling a strand of hair away. He didn't remember doing it, but the camera definitely didn't miss it.
"I want that one," she said simply, her eyes still transfixed on the picture.
"You can have all of them, babe." He kissed her on the temple and wrapped an arm around her shoulder. "I like the one I have."
She pretended to scoff. "Well, you committed three crimes for it… you obviously liked it."
"Okay, can we go home now?"
Her expression turned incensed. "What about my dinosaur charm?"
FIN.
Author's Note: That's the end, fellows. Yes, I fear it might be a bit anti-climactic, but I'm all wiped out for this story. Hopefully it's not as bad as how I read it.
Thanks for everyone who stuck around and followed the story. For those who left reviews. I've enjoyed and appreciated each and every one of them. So thank you.
Keep the Dasey love going.